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Sportsmen Commend House Passage of Public Lands Bill

House vote follows Senate approval of legislation, which would have significant  positive repercussions for public-lands hunting and fishing 

WASHINGTON – In a move lauded by hunters and anglers, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a sweeping public-lands bill that will safeguard millions of acres of fish and wildlife habitat and sporting opportunities, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announced today. With this afternoon’s 285-140 vote, the Omnibus Public Lands Act moves on to consideration by President Barack Obama, who is expected to ratify the legislation.

A package of more than 150 public lands, water and resources bills, the omnibus bill features numerous measures of importance to sportsmen, such as the Wyoming Range Legacy Act and National Landscape Conservation System. The legislation also includes the Altmire amendment, which would maintain access for hunters and anglers in areas currently open to those activities and uphold the ability of states to manage fish and wildlife populations.

“This landmark legislation will enable citizens’ continued enjoyment of public-lands sporting activities by safeguarding crucial fish and wildlife habitat and upholding access to sportsmen’s traditional mountains, plains and waters,” said TRCP Senior Vice President Tom Franklin. “Today’s House vote has enormous positive implications for the future of hunting and fishing in America. Our nation’s sportsmen have reason to celebrate.” 

“The Wyoming Range Legacy Act will sustain more than 1 million acres of prime big-game habitat and native trout waters in an iconic American landscape,” said Dr. Rollin Sparrowe, TRCP co-founder and interim board chair. “The National Landscape Conservation System will conserve hunting and fishing opportunities on some of our country’s most important fish and wildlife habitat. This legislation’s significance to hunters and anglers cannot be overstated.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the omnibus package “the most significant conservation measure to be enacted by Congress in the last 15 years.” The Senate last week voted 77-20 in favor of the legislation, following the House’s rejection of the bill earlier this month.

“Theodore Roosevelt himself said that there can be no greater issue than conservation in this country,” Franklin concluded. “Sportsmen owe a debt of gratitude to our elected Congressional leaders, who labored long and mightily to establish this historic measure as the law of the land.”

Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.